Transcript Mussolini and the Fascist Party

Chapter 26 – World War II
Section 1 – Road to War
The Rise of Dictators
• In the years before WWII, Europe was still
struggling from the effects of WWI.
• As a result, several dictators were able to
rise to power throughout our world.
• This section focuses on the rise of
dictators in the following countries:
- Germany
- Soviet Union
- Italy
- Japan
Germany
• In the 1930’s, millions of Germans had lost
their jobs because of a worldwide Great
Depression.
• Germany was also still having to pay WWI
reparations under the terms of the Treaty
of Versailles.
• A man named Adolf Hitler gave great
speeches and promised to help restore
German pride.
Mein Kampf – “My Struggle”
• Hitler set forth his
views on Germany in
his famous book –
Mein Kampf.
• In this book, he lays
out his ideas for
restoring German
pride and his
anti-semitic views
against the Jews.
Hitler and the Nazi Party
• In 1921, Hitler
became chairman of
the Nazi party – also
called the National
Socialist German
Workers’ Party.
• Hitler became
chancellor, or leader,
of Germany in 1933.
Hitler and Totalitarianism
• Once he became leader of Germany,
Hitler ended all forms of democracy.
• The Nazi Party became the only political
party in Germany.
• Hitler then claimed that Germany had the
right to expand its territories – because of
what Germany had lost after WWI – first
invasion: Rhineland.
• Hitler formed an alliance with Italy in 1936.
Italy
• In the 1930’s, the Italians were suffering as
well.
• The people of Italy believed they had not
gained enough after WWI, and did not
receive as much as Great Britain.
• A man named Benito Mussolini became
popular because he appealed to the
resentment that many Italians felt. He also
gave great speeches like Hitler.
Mussolini and the Fascist Party
• Mussolini was known as
Il Duce, the leader.
• By 1922, Mussolini set up
the Fascist Party.
• By the 1930’s, the Fascist
Party had gained
widespread popularity
and Mussolini was able to
take control of Italy away
from the King.
Mussolini and Totalitarianism
• Once he became leader of Italy, Mussolini ended
all forms of democracy.
• The Fascist Party became the only political party
in Italy.
• Mussolini built up Italy’s military and promised to
recapture the glory of the ancient Romans by
expanding the Italian empire – first invasion:
North Africa.
• Mussolini formed an alliance with Germany in
1936.
Soviet Union (Russia)
• During WWI, the Russians got out of the
war by signing the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.
• The reason they left the war was because
communism was taking over in Russia.
• Russia became known as the Union of
Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R –
also known as the Soviet Union).
- A man named Joseph Stalin became the
popular leader of the communists.
Stalin and the Communist Party
• By the 1920’s, Joseph
Stalin was officially
declared the leader of
the Communist
Party in the Soviet
Union.
• He set up a
communist type of
economy in the Soviet
Union.
Stalin and Totalitarianism
• Once he became leader of the Soviet
Union, Stalin demanded complete
obedience from the people he ruled.
• He executed all his enemies.
• He sent millions of Russians to labor
camps.
• He also forced millions of people to move
to government-owned farms where they
would be forced to work slave labor.
What about Japan?
• Japan was also suffering during the worldwide
Great Depression.
• Military leaders promised help and rose to
power in the early 1930’s.
• Most of these leaders were more powerful than
the Japanese emperor –
Emperor Hirohito.
- The military leaders focused on expanding
Japanese power in Asia – first invasion:
Manchuria and, later, all of China.
What about the United States?
• During the 1930’s, the United States was more
concerned about the Great Depression and their
own economic troubles.
• Most Americans did not want to be involved with
other countries and were not concerned about
the rise of dictators all throughout the world.
• In fact, Congress passed a series of Neutrality
Acts between 1935-1937.
• These laws banned the sale of weapons to any
nation that was at war.